Causal Model Text Processing for Decision Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Analysts and decision-makers face challenges in processing and analyzing vast amounts of information, particularly in complex domains like socioeconomic and political systems, leading to incomplete or delayed decision-making due to the lack of efficient tools for capturing and translating domain expertise into actionable knowledge.

Innovation Solution

A system combining cognitive causal models with text processing and reasoning, allowing domain experts to create and update causal domain models interactively, using text processing tools to validate and refine these models, and perform reasoning analysis for timely decision support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If analysts manually process and analyze vast amounts of information, then they can understand complex relationships and make informed decisions, but the time required increases significantly and information processing becomes incomplete

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation analysis accuracyVSAvoiddecision-making time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated information processing system that acts as an intermediary between raw information and decision-makers. This system includes text processing tools, reasoning engines, and knowledge representation frameworks that automatically analyze information, identify trends, and generate insights, thereby reducing the time burden on analysts while maintaining analysis accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical information processing with automated computational systems. The system uses natural language processing, automated reasoning, and knowledge graphs to perform tasks that previously required human analysts to manually read, interpret, and analyze vast amounts of information, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining or improving accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If domain experts directly create causal domain models, then the accuracy and relevance of the models improve, but the complexity and time required for model creation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedomain model accuracyVSAvoidmodel creation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables domain experts to directly create and update causal domain models using an intuitive interface without requiring assistance from knowledge engineers. The system provides self-service capabilities where experts can define concepts, relationships, and rules through simple interactions, and the system automatically handles the complex tasks of model validation, consistency checking, and knowledge base integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary software layer that simplifies the model creation process for domain experts. This intermediary system handles the complexity of formal knowledge representation, automated reasoning engine integration, and model validation, allowing experts to focus on domain-specific concepts without being burdened by technical complexities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Extent of automation

If knowledge engineers translate domain expertise into reasoning representation models, then the models can be automated for information analysis, but the process becomes time-consuming, expensive, and static

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation analysis automationVSAvoidmodel development time
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static knowledge models into dynamic, continuously updateable systems. Domain experts can interactively add, modify, and refine domain concepts and relationships at any time, and the system automatically reprocesses information using the updated models. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for time-consuming manual model reconstruction while maintaining high levels of automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the system to automatically handle model maintenance and updates without requiring knowledge engineer intervention. When domain experts modify concepts or relationships, the system automatically validates changes, updates the knowledge base, and re-runs information processing tasks, making the entire process self-service and eliminating costly manual rework

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS7644053B2System, method, and computer program product for combination of cognitive causal models with reasoning and text processing for knowledge driven decision support
Publication Date: 2010.01.05 THE BOEING CO
  • US7644053B2 patent drawing
  • US7644053B2 patent drawing
  • US7644053B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system, method, and computer program product for combining causal domain models with reasoning and text processing for knowledge driven decision support are provided. A knowledge driven decision support system is capable of creating a domain model, extracting and processing quantities of text according to the domain model, and generating understanding of the content and implications of information sensitive to analysts. An interface may be used to receive input to model complex relationships of a domain, establish implications of interest or request a query, and update the causal model. A processing element can capture and process text into text profiles by incorporating the domain model and process the text profiles in accordance with the domain model by applying formal reasoning to the information to derive trends, predict events, or arrive at other query results. An output element can provide a user the resulting information related to the domain model.